Five people, including a police officer, were injured after supporters of two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed during programmes marking the party’s founding anniversary in Shreenagar, Munshiganj.
The incident took place at around 11.30am on Tuesday (1 September) in front of Zamzam Tower in Shreenagar upazila’s main market, according to police and local sources.
The confrontation reportedly began as separate groups of BNP supporters arrived in the area with processions organised to mark the party’s founding anniversary. Tensions between the two groups escalated into a chase and counter-chase before turning into a physical confrontation.
According to police and several local sources, the two sides were supporters of Munshiganj-1 MP Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and central BNP executive committee member Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, who is responsible for the party’s voluntary affairs.
Police intervened after the situation deteriorated. During attempts to bring the confrontation under control, Shreenagar Police Station’s Inspector (Investigation) Milton Dutta was struck on the head by a piece of brick thrown during the clash.
Rony, 27, who is associated with the MP’s faction, and a 40-year-old member from the other side were also injured. In total, five people from the two sides, including the police officer, were reported injured. All those injured received treatment at Shreenagar Upazila Health Complex.
Inspector Dutta said both groups had arranged separate programmes to mark the BNP’s founding anniversary. According to him, the confrontation broke out when the groups arrived with their respective processions.
Police moved in to control the situation and prevent the clash from spreading. Dutta said no formal complaint had been filed by either side with the police at the time of his statement.
“Both sides had organised programmes for the founding anniversary. The clash occurred when they arrived with processions,” Dutta said. He added that a piece of brick hit his head while police were attempting to restore order.
Following the incident, additional police personnel were deployed at several points in the area as a precautionary measure. The move was aimed at preventing any further confrontation and maintaining public order in the market and surrounding areas.
Attempts were made to contact Munshiganj-1 MP Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and central BNP voluntary affairs secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu for their comments on the incident. Neither answered the telephone calls, so their immediate responses were unavailable.
The incident has highlighted tensions between rival groups within the local BNP during a major party programme. With no formal complaint lodged by either side so far, the police have maintained a heightened presence in the area to prevent any further deterioration of the situation.
